Top Items:
Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:
Obama to Offer ‘Accomodation’ on Contraception Rule — With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, ABC News has learned that later today the White House …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Michelle Malkin, The Huffington Post, Don Surber, Political Mojo, News Desk, The Hinterland Gazette, Jezebel, Weasel Zippers, Rumproast, The Raw Story, Hot Air, Shakesville, The Page, Right Wing News, Campaign 2012, Outside the Beltway, Business Insider, The PJ Tatler, The Daily Caller and Daily Kos, more at Mediagazer »
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Wall Street Journal:
Low Turnout and the Big Tune-Out — Voters aren't bothering with the GOP, but Obama has lost their attention too. — The Romney campaign is better at dismantling than mantling. They're better at taking opponents apart than building a compelling candidate of their own.
Discussion:
GOP 12, Outside the Beltway and Business Insider
Washington Post:
White House to announce adjustment to birth-control rule — Seeking to allay the concerns of Catholic leaders, the White House is planning to announce an adjustment to its health care rule requiring religious employers to provide women access to contraception, a senior administration official said.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Firedoglake, Rod Dreher, Taylor Marsh, Big Government, The Atlantic Online, The Hill and LifeNews.com
Ian Swanson / The Hill:
Obama retreats on birth control — The White House will announce a retreat from its controversial rule requiring religious organizations like charities and hospitals to include contraception in their healthcare plans. — President Obama has come under heavy criticism from the Catholic Church …
Discussion:
Politico and Taegan Goddard's …
Politico:
President Obama boxed in on birth control — It was no secret inside the West Wing that Bill Daley, a Catholic with deep connections to the church hierarchy, vehemently opposed the administration's proposal to require church-run hospitals and universities to give their employees free contraception.
Discussion:
New York Times, Sky Dancing and Weasel Zippers
Nick Baumann / Mother Jones:
Most of Obama's “Controversial” Birth Control Rule Was Law During Bush Years
Most of Obama's “Controversial” Birth Control Rule Was Law During Bush Years
Discussion:
Public Policy Polling, Political Mojo, Balloon Juice, THEROOT.COM, Daily Kos, The Last Tradition and Feministing
Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:
They're back: Social issues overtake US politics
Lesley Clark / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
As Obama's political fortunes rise, fight over contraception mandate casts a cloud
As Obama's political fortunes rise, fight over contraception mandate casts a cloud
Discussion:
Washington Wire
Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:
Fierce White House Debate Over Contraception Mandate
Fierce White House Debate Over Contraception Mandate
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Washington Post, Maggie's Farm, Don Surber, The Hill, Shakesville, The Lonely Conservative, Hot Air, Pundit & Pundette, The PJ Tatler, CBS New York, Hullabaloo, Associated Press, The Moderate Voice, 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, Taylor Marsh, The Daily Beast, Opinionator and The Atlantic Online
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Santorum says ‘other types of emotions’ could preclude women in combat — For a candidate with virtually no staff and who tends to talk off the cuff, Rick Santorum has been nearly gaffe-free. However, this evening might have been his first, and it comes at a time when he is trying …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Althouse
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Craig Whitlock / Washington Post:
Pentagon to ease restrictions on women in some combat roles
Pentagon to ease restrictions on women in some combat roles
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, New York Times, msnbc.com and Althouse
Washington Post:
Rep. Spencer Bachus faces insider-trading investigation — The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Business Insider, The Maddow Blog, CBS News, Politico and Big Government
Jon Ward / The Huffington Post:
Mitt Romney's Struggles Take Republican Angst To New Heights … Barack Obama , Mitt Romney , Republican Presidential Primary , Rick Santorum , Cpac , Elections 2012 , Newt Gingrich , Rick Perry , Video , Politics News — WASHINGTON — The angst within the Republican Party …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Chicago Tribune, New York Magazine, Politico, Wall Street Journal and msnbc.com
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Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Rep. King predicts critical day for GOP presidential candidates
Rep. King predicts critical day for GOP presidential candidates
Discussion:
CNN
Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:
Santorum, Romney to face off at CPAC in high-stakes appeal to party faithful
Santorum, Romney to face off at CPAC in high-stakes appeal to party faithful
Discussion:
New York Times, ABCNEWS, msnbc.com, Boston Globe, GOP 12 and Wall Street Journal
John Hinderaker / Power Line:
Is 2012 Slipping Away From the GOP? — For a long time, I was confident that Republican voters would oust Barack Obama in 2012, hold the House and, in all likelihood, take the Senate. Obama is a weak incumbent, who has been chronically unpopular since early in his term.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Washington Post:
Mitt Romney's presidential campaign stuck in lukewarm — Republicans are expressing fresh concerns that Mitt Romney is limping toward the presidential nomination, suffering new blows at the very moment he needs to grow stronger if he is to take on President Obama in November.
Discussion:
msnbc.com and The Maddow Blog
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David Brooks / New York Times:
The Crowd Pleaser — At first glance, President Obama and Mitt Romney share some similar traits. Both Harvard Law School grads are smart and analytical. Both are emotionally reserved rather than touchy-feely. Both are traditionalist in their family and personal lives.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog
Associated Press:
Romney ‘glitter bomber’ fired from internship — DENVER — The college student accused of “glitter bombing” Mitt Romney after the Colorado caucuses has been fired from his unpaid internship with state Senate Democrats. — Police say 20-year-old Peter Smith threw glitter at Romney …
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon
Bloomberg:
Foreclosure Deal to Spur U.S. Home Seizures — The $25 billion settlement with banks over foreclosure abuses may result in a wave of home seizures, inflicting short-term pain on delinquent U.S. borrowers while making a long-term housing recovery more likely.
Discussion:
Hot Air and Wall Street Journal
Sabrina Tavernise / New York Times:
Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say — WASHINGTON — Education was historically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable of lifting less advantaged children and improving their chances for success as adults. But a body of recently published scholarship suggests …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Rod Dreher
Associated Press:
Gay marriage bill introduced in Illinois House — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A year after gay couples gained the option of civil unions in Illinois, some lawmakers are beginning a push to authorize same-sex marriages. — Three legislators filed what they call the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” on Wednesday.
Discussion:
The Raw Story
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Nicole Neroulias / Reuters:
Washington state governor to sign gay marriage bill on Monday
Washington state governor to sign gay marriage bill on Monday
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay, Feministing and BuzzFeed
Noam Scheiber / The New Republic:
Obama's Worst Year — The inside story of his brush with political disaster. — Shortly after four o'clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 13, 2011, U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner walked down the hallway near his office toward a large conference room facing the building's interior.
Discussion:
Politico and Brad DeLong
Joe Battenfeld / Boston Herald:
Poll: Joe Kennedy III has huge lead in U.S. Rep race — Joseph P. Kennedy III's famous family ties have handed him a huge early lead in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, a new UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll reveals. — Kennedy, the son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers